MINUTES of the MARICOPA ASSOCIATION of GOVERNMENTS REGIONAL COUNCIL MEETING August 31, 2016 MAG Office, Saguaro Room Phoenix, Ar
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MINUTES OF THE MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS REGIONAL COUNCIL MEETING August 31, 2016 MAG Office, Saguaro Room Phoenix, Arizona MEMBERS ATTENDING Mayor Greg Stanton, Phoenix, Chair *Supervisor Denny Barney, Maricopa County Mayor Jackie Meck, Buckeye, Vice Chair Mayor John Giles, Mesa Vice Mayor Robin Barker, Apache Junction Vice Mayor David Sherf for Mayor Michael # Mayor Kenneth Weise, Avondale Collins, Paradise Valley Councilmember Mike Farrar, Carefree #Mayor Cathy Carlat, Peoria Councilmember Dick Esser, Cave Creek Supervisor Todd House, Pinal County Mayor Jay Tibshraeny, Chandler Mayor Gail Barney, Queen Creek Mayor Lana Mook, El Mirage President Delbert Ray, Salt River Mayor Tom Rankin, Florence Pima-Maricopa Indian Community * President Bernadine Burnette, Fort *Mayor W.J. “Jim” Lane, Scottsdale McDowell Yavapai Nation Mayor Sharon Wolcott, Surprise * Mayor Linda Kavanagh, Fountain Hills Mayor Mark Mitchell, Tempe * Mayor Chuck Turner, Gila Bend *Mayor Adolfo Gamez, Tolleson * Governor Stephen Roe Lewis, Gila River *Mayor John Cook, Wickenburg Indian Community #Mayor Michael LeVault, Youngtown Mayor Jenn Daniels, Gilbert #Mr. Roc Arnett, Citizens Transportation Mayor Jerry Weiers, Glendale Oversight Committee Mayor Georgia Lord, Goodyear Mr. Joseph La Rue, State Transportation Board * Mayor Angie Perez, Guadalupe Vice Mayor Jack Sellers, State Mayor Thomas Schoaf, Litchfield Park Transportation Board * Mayor Christian Price, City of Maricopa * Those members neither present nor represented by proxy. # Attended by telephone conference call. + Attended by videoconference 1. Call to Order The meeting of the MAG Regional Council was called to order by Chair Greg Stanton, Phoenix, at 11:40 a.m. 2. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. -1- Mr. Roc Arnett, Mayor Kenneth Weise, Mayor Cathy Carlat, and Mayor Michael LeVault joined the meeting by teleconference. Chair Stanton presented Mayor Jenn Daniels, Gilbert, with her Regional Council membership certificate. He noted that Mayor Daniels is a member of the Transportation Policy Committee and has attended Regional Council meetings in the past as proxy. Chair Stanton welcomed Paradise Valley Vice Mayor David Sherf, who was proxy for Mayor Michael Collins. 7. Federal Highway Administration Update This agenda item was taken out of order. Ms. Karla Petty, the Arizona Division Administrator for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), provided an update on the priorities and initiatives of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Ms. Petty stated that in addition to safety, Secretary Foxx’s priority is the relationship between transportation and opportunity. She indicated that he feels that the choices made about future transportation projects—the people and places they connect, will play a role in determining how widely opportunity expands throughout America. Ms. Petty stated that transportation infrastructure—the road, water, air, and rail networks on which we depend — are easily taken for granted and their impact often forgotten. In the 1950s, the United States paved the way to its future with local, state, and federal dollars building millions of miles of roads under the Interstate Highway program. Ms. Petty stated that the modern highway system opened up new worlds to those who traveled along it. As a result of the Interstate Highway program, the United States has a well-developed network of routes that link every state and connect the country like never before. She noted that the MAG region has one of the most extensive high occupancy vehicle systems in the country. However, we also see today that the same infrastructure that brought massive expansion too often reinforced dividing lines within communities and created physical barriers to opportunity. Ms. Petty noted that Secretary Foxx grew up in a city divided by an interstate and that is why he feels that including the community in designs is so important. Ms. Petty stated that at a time when much U.S. infrastructure will be repaired or replaced, it is an appropriate time for communities to re-imagine existing transportation projects via innovative and restorative infrastructure designs that reflect a more inclusive America, reconnects people and neighborhoods to opportunity, and reinvigorates opportunities within communities by empowering and encouraging communities and decision makers to work together. Ms. Petty stated that the U.S. DOT plays a critical role in connecting Americans and communities to economic opportunity. Choices made at the federal, state and local level can strengthen communities, create pathways to jobs and improve the quality of life for all Americans. Ms. Petty encourage expanding what is currently being done at the state and local levels to make a positive difference and provide modal choices. -2- Ms. Petty stated that transportation infrastructure can have a dramatic impact on neighborhoods and regions by creating better access and attracting new opportunities within an area. It can provide support for urban and rural main street centers and attract more business and residential developments designed to bring everyone closer to opportunities where they live. Ms. Petty stated that a multimodal transportation system provides people with safe, reliable and affordable connections to employment, education, healthcare and other critical services. Transportation projects create jobs, both through the project directly as well as in jobs stimulated through the resulting economic development. Ms. Petty stated that the U.S. DOT funds projects that promote the Ladders of Opportunity initiative. Through TIGER, the Department has been able to fund numerous transportation projects focused on improving ladders of opportunity across cities, towns, and regions. Ms. Petty stated that one project in particular is the Vision Zero: Saving Lives and Providing Opportunity Project in New York City, the first phase of a comprehensive effort to reduce traffic related deaths and injuries in New York City, which on average occur once every two hours. Ms. Petty stated that last year, two projects in the region were awarded TIGER grants: the Phoenix Grand Canal Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements project and the State Route 347 Grade Separation Project. Ms. Petty stated that the time has come to close the disparity for safety. She noted that many low-income and minority communities suffer from political disempowerment and historic under-investment that has manifested in a lack of the basic infrastructure. In part because low-income communities are less likely to have sidewalk and other pedestrian facilities. Ms. Petty stated that another of the Secretary’s challenges is Safer People, Safer Streets, a pedestrian and bicycle safety initiative. She reported that the Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People and Safer Streets is a call to action for city officials to advance safety and accessibility goals. Ms. Petty noted that in Arizona, three cities have accepted the Secretary’s Challenge – Phoenix, Mayor Stanton and staff; Tucson, Mayor Rothschild and staff; and Oro Valley, Mayor Hiremath and staff. Ms. Petty noted that they were invited to a workshop in Washington, D.C., last spring to discuss the Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People and Safer Streets. On September 16, the U.S. DOT is hosting a summit. Ms. Petty stated that another part of the Challenge is Road Safety Assessments. She explained that the U.S. DOT convened state, regional, and local transportation officials and stakeholders for on-the-ground safety assessments in every state. For Arizona this assessment was along the Phoenix South Central Light Rail Corridor. Ms. Petty stated that this tool continues to be available and provides an exceptional on-the-ground assessment of proposed or existing infrastructure. She encouraged everyone to participate in Road Safety Assessments. Ms. Petty stated that the Ladders of OpportunityTransportation Empowerment Pilot (LadderSTEP) provides technical assistance to local cities on game-changing community revitalization projects related to major infrastructure investments that revitalize, connect, and support access to economic opportunity. She explained that the U.S. DOT launched the program in seven U.S. cities (Atlanta, Baltimore, Baton Rouge, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Phoenix, and Richmond). Ms. Petty noted that Phoenix is the only city -3- west of Louisiana to be chosen for LadderSTEP. She indicated that the program is a local approach to a partnership. Ms. Petty stated that through the LadderSTEP program, FHWA and FTA have been working closely with the City of Phoenix on the South Central Corridor – earlier this month a community workshop on equitable transit oriented development was held. A number of national organizations are providing technical assistance to the cities included in this pilot program, including LOCUS, a program of Smart Growth America; the Urban Land Institute (ULI); and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Ms. Petty stated that through the Secretary’s efforts, they are striving for institutionalizing community solutions as an everyday practice so that projects are built by the people, for the people. She mentioned that she is interested in hearing about cities’ experiences and practices. Ms. Petty stated that the U.S. DOT has been providing technical assistance for funding opportunities and arranging peer-to-peer opportunities. Ms. Petty stated that Metro regions are morphing into Megaregions, which cross state and political boundaries. As regions grow, the number of entities